Watermark Bible Church, Portsmouth, Virginia

Have you ever held a diamond or a prism and just watch what happens to the light as hit hits that diamond – the rainbow of beautiful colors that are cast from that diamond? You can hold it at different angles and see the beauty expressed in several different ways. As we continue our study of this Colossian song, it’s almost as if Paul is presenting Jesus in several different ways just to take our breath away as we consider the identity of our redeemer. We’ll feel that this Sunday.

There are certain words called prepositions that have little to no meaning on their own. So, they never show up on their own. They are used in a phrase which gives them meaning. This week we come to section where 3 prepositions are used. Their context illuminates some wonderous truths about Jesus and how we should live.

Everybody likes to make a good deal. At the same time we all get a little weary if a deal seems too good to be true. This Sunday we’ll look at the greatest transaction in history. A deal that seems far too good to be true, but it is. Through Jesus we have been rescued from the domain of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. There’s no better trade than that.

What would you like to see God accomplish in your life? What are some areas that He needs to develop in you? Now, think about those same questions in relation to your friends and family members. Then, consider how do you pray. For most people there is a gap between living out all the purposes of God and the content of our prayers. There was no such gap in the way Paul prayed. This week we’ll look at a prayer that all of us would desire that someone prays for us. It’s also a prayer we should pray for others.

Have you ever been to the beach and have a towel or an umbrella blown away by the wind? Perhaps, you thought there was enough sand on the towel or around the umbrella to keep it anchored, but it didn’t hold. In life, people anchor their hopes to many different things. However, this Sunday we’ll see that only Jesus is sufficient to hold the hope of our life. Bring friends as we continue our study through Colossians.

We live busy lives in a busy world. There’s this temptation to compartmentalize life in terms of the secular and the spiritual. So, we speak of making time for Jesus or adding Jesus to an already full schedule. The early church faced similar temptations. There was this distorted thinking that they could add Jesus to their religious traditions, their cultural practices, and their belief systems. These destructive ideas diminish Jesus’ deity and chip away at his authority. Paul wrote Colossians so the church would accurately understand who Jesus is. He is supreme. He is sufficient. He is all in all. Jesus is the center of all things.

This Sunday will be full of emotion at Watermark. On one hand, we’ll celebrate a baptism that will be very exciting. On the other hand, we’ll talk about Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom. We’ll ground our emotions in the truth of Ephesians 6 and be reminded that light always defeats darkness.

Have you ever been afraid of the dark? At one point or another we’ve probably all been there. In Ephesians 5, Paul tells the church how to approach a dark world. He calls the church to lives of holiness in the mission fields of life to display greatness of His gospel. For many people when they understand Ephesians 5 it is as if the lights are turned on related to the purpose of the posture of the church.

Culture matters. We’ve all been a part of an atmosphere that is exciting and life-giving. It’s a place where you can feel joy and are excited to be. We’ve also been in a part of an atmosphere that is heavy, where everyone is walking on eggshells and it is absent of excitement. Jesus designed his church with a distinct culture. It is a culture of grace where everyone is discipled to accomplish God’s purpose in their lives. We’ll explore that together this week as we see clearly who the church ought to be.

Have you ever been hurt or hurt someone with the truth? At times, the truth can be a weapon. It’s in Ephesians 4 where Paul writes speak the truth in love. There we learn you can be right but still be wrong. However, it’s in Ephesians 3 where Paul prays that the church would be rooted and established in the love of Christ. We’ll study that prayer together this Sunday and see just how powerful intimacy with Christ truly is.